Acrisure Stadium Selected As FEMA Disaster Shelter Site

PITTSBURGH, PA — If a catastrophic weather event like Hurricane Helene or similar disaster ever hits Pittsburgh, Acrisure Stadium could be used by the Federal Emergency Mangement Agency as an emergency shelter.

Acrisure this week was named one of four NFL stadiums that are the initial picks to serve as a "Mission Ready Venue" that can house people in the event of hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding. FEMA also gave the designation this week to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Lumen Field in Seattle and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

"During large-scale emergencies, we've seen how large music, sports, and entertainment venues can serve as a safe space for communities," FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a statement.

Obtaining this designation means stadiums during disaster can serve as emergency shelters, staging areas, commodity distribution sites, evacuation pick up points, disaster recovery centers, mass vaccination and testing, temporary hospitals and more.

To receive an official Mission Ready Venue designation, venues must undergo a comprehensive assessment to determine what capabilities it may be able to support in emergency and disaster response and recovery efforts.